By Emmanuel T. Erediano
emmanuel@mvariety.com
Variety News Staff
THE House of Representatives on Monday unanimously rejected the Senate version of House Bill 24-74, which would appropriate $1 million in public land income to the Public School System and the mayor’s offices of Saipan, Tinian, and Rota.
Authored by Rep. Blas Jonathan Attao and introduced by the entire House as a committee of the whole, H.B. 24-74 now goes to a bicameral conference committee.
All 17 House members present voted to reject the amended version of the bill and call for the formation of a conference committee to draft a version acceptable to both the Senate and the House.
Speaker Edmund S. Villagomez appointed Rep. Blas Jonathan Attao, Rep. Ralph Yumul, and Rep. John Paul Sablan as House conferees.
Rep. Thomas John Manglona, Rep. Patrick San Nicolas, and Rep. Ralph N. Yumul were excused, while Rep. Julie Ogo attended the session via video teleconference.
H.B. 24-74 was originally intended to fund the Nutrition Assistance Program for November distribution of food stamp benefits, shielding recipients from the impact of a federal government shutdown. The source of the funds is derived from trust interest income remitted to the general fund by the Marianas Public Land Trust.
The $1 million MPLT appropriation bill is one of Gov. David M. Apatang’s recommendations to adequately fund PSS in compliance with the 25% constitutional mandate.
When the shutdown ended on Nov. 12, 2025, Gov. Apatang informed the Legislature that the money to address the NAP fund shortfall was no longer needed. He recommended allocating the public land income to PSS, the Marianas Visitor Authority, and the municipalities of Tinian and Rota.
The Senate version of the bill, which the House is expected to pass today, appropriates the funds as follows:
• $250,000 for PSS
• $100,000 for Saipan Mayor’s Office operations
• $325,000 for Tinian Mayor’s Office public programs
• $325,000 for Rota Mayor’s Office public programs
Emmanuel “Arnold” Erediano has a bachelor of science degree in Journalism. He started his career as police beat reporter. Loves to cook. Eats death threats for breakfast.
